Biblical trees
Flowering trees: The Judas Tree
Jeremiah 1:11-12 NKJV
11 Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. 12 Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.
During May 2023 I was at HaYovel in Samaria, Israel, where we had the opportunity to plant trees as part of the physical restoration of the land of Israel. Holy Spirit showed me the following Scriptures to plant underneath this tree:
”Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; And in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.“ Psalm 1:1-3 KJV
”Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.“ Jeremiah 17:5-10 KJV
Great was my distress when I got to the point where I had to collect the tree I had to plant, and there was only 3 little Judas trees left. I was complaining and negotiating with God: “Father, I cannot plant these beautiful promises of your Word under a Judas tree! It is not right, Judas is associated with betrayal!” The fact was, that there was no plan B at this point. So eventually I picked up my little tree and proceeded to the area where we had to plant them. As I was putting the piece of paper with the above Scriptures written on it in the ground, the Lord told me clearly that neither my children or I, will ever be betrayed again. I cried many tears, since betrayal by those closest to me, has been part of my journey for the past 7 years. The weightiness of Father’s words outweighed the fact that I am planting a little stick Judas tree.
When I saw this picture, I was so touched by Father’s ability to confirm and perform HIs Word to us. He can take the smallest of things and, if we walk in obedience and faith, He will bring fruit, truth, insight and healing.
And this finally brings me to the Scripture about the almond branch. Our Father asks Jeremiah, what do you see. And Jeremiah says, “the rod of an almond tree”. Then Father says to Jeremiah: “You have seen well, I am standing ready to perform My Word.”
After 7 years of battling to survive, repositioning and challenge upon challenge, I finally understood what He required of me. This was to return to the pureness of the Word and in obeying His Word. The Scriptures He gave me to plant under the Judas tree indicated it so clearly.
And though I am still searching and learning, I can feel and see that I have entered a new season. A season where I believe Father has changed my mourning into dancing, where He is bringing fulfilment to His Word for me and my family. He is not necessarily bringing what we hoped and prayed for; however He is bring a peace regarding where we are at now.
I now understand that He really will never leave us nor forsake us and that He will be true to His character: when He has spoken a Word over you, He will surely accomplish it. It might seem that there is no chance that the word over your live will come into fulfilment. However, He says that He will perform it. Just as the Judas tree grows from a small stick tree, to a beautiful, large, flowering tree, He grows us into what He intended for us to become. He performs His Word according to His ways, His time and His instructions.
I want to encourage you to stick to His Word, to keep on standing in faith and to keep going day after day, for He says in His Word in Isaiah 55:11
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
On your journey, whether hard or easy, remember what He says in Exodus 33:14: …… “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
May you be blessed to get to know the fullness of our Father’s promises for those who belief and trust His Word.
